Liverpool6 - 1Hull

The Spanish striker showed stunning footwork to slot in a first, before Geovanni's volley levelled matters.

Torres dribbled around Boaz Myhill to restore the Reds' lead and rolled in to complete his treble after latching on to a clever Yossi Benayoun pass.

Steven Gerrard's cross flew it to make it 4-1 before Ryan Babel tapped in Dirk Kuyt's cross and then unknowingly deflected in Albert Riera's late shot.

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Benitez happy with six against Hull

The final score was harsh on Hull, but their commitment and endeavour could not make up for a glaring lack of quality throughout the side.

After a shaky start to the season, Rafael Benitez has now seen his Liverpool side win their last six matches, scoring 18 goals in the process.

The Spaniard even had the luxury of resting midfielder Javier Mascherano ahead of a testing week which includes a Champions League trip to Fiorentina on Tuesday and a league meeting with Chelsea next Sunday.

Riera came in for the Argentine and the winger had an immediate impact as his low ball in from the left was shifted out of his feet by the quick-thinking Torres before he rolled into the far corner.

It was far from an ideal start for Hull, who had lost their previous three matches, but if the majority of the Anfield crowd were expecting the floodgates to open they were soon to be disappointed as the Tigers gave their travelling fans something to celebrate.

Paul McShane's cross from the right was headed back across goal by Jan Venegoor of Hesselink and, after Martin Skrtel could only flick the ball up in the air, Geovanni waited for it to drop on to his left foot and directed it into the corner from 10 yards.

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Brown blames 'unacceptable defending'

The goal gave Hull renewed belief and every time they pumped a ball into the Liverpool area the hosts' fragile defence gave them cause for optimism, clearly not heeding boss Benitez's midweek plea for them to tighten up at the back.

Fortunately for them Hull were even shakier and before the half-hour mark Torres doubled the lead, slipping on to a Benayoun slide-rule pass, nonchalantly rounding Ibrahima Sonko and Myhill before clipping into the net.

Hull simply could not live with the blond marksman and he sealed his fourth Liverpool hat-trick two minutes after the break, again found by Benayoun and again coming inside Sonko before firing home.

At that stage the score was harsh on Hull, who saw a Sonko header deflected wide and a Geovanni shot fly off target, but from then on it was nothing more than an exercise in damage limitation.

And as the Hull defence - including 18-year-old Liam Cooper, making his Premier League debut - proceeded to fall apart, Liverpool began to run riot.

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Torres delighted with a wonderful game

Gerrard's goal had more than a touch of fortune about it as he swung over a cross from the left that swirled over Myhill's head and flew in-off the crossbar, but as the game wore on Hull simply could not get the ball off their opponents.

Torres and Gerrard were given deserved rests but the torment did not end there as Kuyt ploughed down the right and crossed for Babel to convert at the near post.

It got even worse in injury time as Riera's shot struck Babel and looped over Myhill to make it six.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez on Fernando Torres:

"He is now showing his ability but I think he can do it better. He is keen to learn and he will improve but how much depends on him.

"We decided to spend £20m on him - that was a massive figure for us.

"We brought him here because of his quality but also his potential. We are pleased now but he can improve."

Hull boss Phil Brown:

"I was disgusted with some of the defending, individually and collectively. For me it was demoralising and I hope it was for the players as well.

"People will say Torres was the difference between the two sides but I thought we gifted them the goals.

"To come out in the second half and throw away a third goal and give up our position was disgusting.

"That killed us off and one or two towels went in after that, which is bitterly disappointing from my point of view."

41:31 George Boateng has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

40:47 Dirk Kuyt takes a shot. Boaz Myhill makes a comfortable save.

39:02 Albert Riera sends in a cross, Paul McShane gets a block in. Corner from the left by-line taken by Steven Gerrard, Ibrahima
Sonko manages to make a clearance.

37:49 The ball is crossed by Fernando Torres.

37:03 Paul McShane delivers the ball, Jamie Carragher manages to make a clearance.

36:01 Shot by Kamel Ghilas. Emiliano Insua gets a block in.

31:56 Stephen Hunt has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Save by Jose Reina.

30:55 Deiberson Geovanni fouled by Dirk Kuyt, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Deiberson
Geovanni, clearance made by Emiliano Insua. Corner taken by Deiberson Geovanni from the left by-line played to the near post,
Fernando Torres makes a clearance.

30:16 Shot from long range by Deiberson Geovanni misses to the right of the target.

27:37 GOAL - Fernando Torres:Liverpool 2 - 1 Hull A brilliant goal is scored by Fernando Torres from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Liverpool 2-1 Hull.

Correction - 24:10 A cross is delivered by Fernando Torres, Andy Dawson makes a clearance. Steven Gerrard takes a short corner, The ball is sent
over by Albert Riera, Martin Skrtel takes a shot. Blocked by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Yossi Benayoun takes a outswinging
corner from the right by-line to the near post, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink makes a clearance.

24:10 The ball is swung over by Fernando Torres, Andy Dawson manages to make a clearance. Steven Gerrard decides to take a short
corner, Albert Riera delivers the ball, Martin Skrtel takes a shot from 12 yards. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink gets a block
in. Yossi Benayoun takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

22:39 Leiva Lucas takes a shot. Save by Boaz Myhill.

21:00 Glen Johnson concedes a free kick for a foul on Kamel Ghilas. Stephen Hunt crosses the ball in from the free kick, Jose Reina
makes a comfortable save.

20:21 Emiliano Insua takes a shot. Blocked by Liam Cooper. Corner taken by Albert Riera from the left by-line to the near post,
George Boateng manages to make a clearance.

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